The owners, Rob Johnson, 50, and his partner, Stephen Rose, 56, purchased this roughly 3-acre property in Ojai, Calif., which is northwest of Los Angeles in Ventura County, in 2006, according to public records. Mr. Johnson said they bought it for $4.9 million. The Spanish-style home, designed by noted architect Paul Revere Williams, was built in 1929. ()

The owners, Rob Johnson, 50, and his partner, Stephen Rose, 56, purchased this roughly 3-acre property in Ojai, Calif., which is northwest of Los Angeles in Ventura County, in 2006, according to public records. Mr. Johnson said they bought it for $4.9 million. The Spanish-style home, designed by noted architect Paul Revere Williams, was built in 1929. ()

Known as the 'Ford Estate' after its first owners, the home is considered a Ventura County historical landmark. The architect, Paul Revere Williams, was the first African-American to be admitted to the American Institute of Architects, according to the Paul Revere Williams Project at the University of Memphis. Mr. Williams was popular with the celebrity set in his day, and built several luxury homes in the Los Angeles area, among other projects.

Known as the 'Ford Estate' after its first owners, the home is considered a Ventura County historical landmark. The architect, Paul Revere Williams, was the first African-American to be admitted to the American Institute of Architects, according to the Paul Revere Williams Project at the University of Memphis. Mr. Williams was popular with the celebrity set in his day, and built several luxury homes in the Los Angeles area, among other projects.

Mr. Johnson is a real-estate agent with Rodeo Realty and Mr. Rose is a retired literary agent, Mr. Johnson said. Mr. Johnson is a co-listing agent on this property. Despite the home's architectural pedigree, the space required major work, Mr. Johnson said. He said they invested 'several millions' into restoring the home.

Mr. Johnson is a real-estate agent with Rodeo Realty and Mr. Rose is a retired literary agent, Mr. Johnson said. Mr. Johnson is a co-listing agent on this property. Despite the home's architectural pedigree, the space required major work, Mr. Johnson said. He said they invested 'several millions' into restoring the home.

The home measures 7,456-square feet, according to the listing. A wood-paneled library is shown. This room required the least amount of restoration work, Mr. Johnson said, but other rooms required far more intensive work. The couple redid the roof, air systems, electrical wiring, plumbing, and several finishes throughout the home. Every window in the home was removed to replace rotting wood stops, and were reinstalled after the project was completed, he said. The original windows are still intact.

The home measures 7,456-square feet, according to the listing. A wood-paneled library is shown. This room required the least amount of restoration work, Mr. Johnson said, but other rooms required far more intensive work. The couple redid the roof, air systems, electrical wiring, plumbing, and several finishes throughout the home. Every window in the home was removed to replace rotting wood stops, and were reinstalled after the project was completed, he said. The original windows are still intact.

A central design feature of the hacienda-style home is the central courtyard, shown here. There was no landscaping when the couple arrived, so they had four mature olive trees craned into the space, and relandscaped it to fit the home's '20s aesthetic.

A central design feature of the hacienda-style home is the central courtyard, shown here. There was no landscaping when the couple arrived, so they had four mature olive trees craned into the space, and relandscaped it to fit the home's '20s aesthetic.

The courtyard features a central fountain with Spanish tile that is original to the home. The fountain water flows into a smaller channel, shown here, that ends in a diamond-shaped point. There is also an outdoor fireplace, which is not pictured.

The courtyard features a central fountain with Spanish tile that is original to the home. The fountain water flows into a smaller channel, shown here, that ends in a diamond-shaped point. There is also an outdoor fireplace, which is not pictured.

The courtyard was landscaped with traditional boxwoods and rose bushes that surround the fountain on four sides. Several doors in the home open up to the outdoor space. An outdoor fireplace is shown in the background.

The courtyard was landscaped with traditional boxwoods and rose bushes that surround the fountain on four sides. Several doors in the home open up to the outdoor space. An outdoor fireplace is shown in the background.

While re-roofing the property, Mr. Johnson said they preserved the original Spanish tiles, which have a patina that you can't find in new tile today. 'Everything was repaired, as opposed to replaced,' Mr. Johnson said. A flower garden on the property is shown. There is also an herb and vegetable garden located outside the kitchen, which includes tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and grapes.

While re-roofing the property, Mr. Johnson said they preserved the original Spanish tiles, which have a patina that you can't find in new tile today. 'Everything was repaired, as opposed to replaced,' Mr. Johnson said. A flower garden on the property is shown. There is also an herb and vegetable garden located outside the kitchen, which includes tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and grapes.

There is a tangerine grove on the property, which is harvested by a local organization that sells them. They grow the 'Ojai Pixie' variety of the citrus fruit. The next owner can choose to continue this arrangement, he said. In addition to the home's architectural cachet, 'the gentleman farmer idea was attractive to me,' Mr. Johnson said.

There is a tangerine grove on the property, which is harvested by a local organization that sells them. They grow the 'Ojai Pixie' variety of the citrus fruit. The next owner can choose to continue this arrangement, he said. In addition to the home's architectural cachet, 'the gentleman farmer idea was attractive to me,' Mr. Johnson said.